Writer Wes Moore is able to achieve success in his education, career, and political pursuits through the support of his mother, grandparents, and mentors. Having the validation that there are people who care, love, and support you when hopelessness sets in can change everything for a young individual feeling aimless.

Moore was unaware of the amount of work, time, and money his mother Joy spent pushing him to finish his education and stay on track. He writes, “Military school is not free. It’s not even cheap. My mother had written to family and friends, asking them to help her however they could. Weeks later, she was still thousands of dollars short” (66). Even without knowing how much his family was rooting for him, their efforts and faith in him helped him achieve incredible things at a very young age.

Although the struggles in those lonely moments felt endless, small moments of encouragement have the greatest effect on Moore. He recalls one moment in particular: “I will never forget the phone call I had with my mom after I ran away from Valley Forge Military Academy. The one where she cut me off to tell me that she was proud of me, and that too many people had made sacrifices for me to be there and not try” (148).